WELLINGTON, March 18: Misty rain and fog forced the first day of the second cricket Test between New Zealand and Australia to be abandoned without a ball being bowled here on Friday. Play was rescheduled to start half an hour earlier on Saturday but the weather outlook was for similar conditions and there was only a remote chance of play. Australia have retained the same XI who wrapped up the first Test with a day to spare, while New Zealand have delayed naming their 12th man until toss as the choice between off-spinner Paul Wiseman and the medium pace of Iain O’Brien will also depend on the weather.
Meanwhile, a confident Australian coach John Buchanan declared that three days was plenty of time to beat New Zealand even with prospect of play on the second day looked doubtful.
That could leave as little as 300 overs of playing time,
but Buchanan said that was more than enough for his side to shoot for their seventh consecutive Test win since their 13-run loss to India in November. “The previous Test match (in Christchurch) was completed in about 345 overs — I suspect if we can get around 300 overs in the game that still gives a real opportunity of a result,” Buchanan said.
“It doesn’t give us as much an opportunity to expose or exploit some of New Zealand’s weaknesses. “But if we play good cricket for the time we’re on the field, we always give ourselves a chance of securing a result.”
Australia, who have retained the same XI from their nine-wicket win in the first Test, have barely gone past the fourth day in their six Test victories over New Zealand and Pakistan this season.
In Brisbane in November, New Zealand just staggered past lunch on the fourth day as they collapsed for 76 in their second innings, while in Adelaide New Zealand just made it to day five only after Australia opted not to enforce the follow on.—AFP
